FBI police check to Australia Post Time?

Hi everyone--I just watched the postman drive past our letterbox without dropping anything in it again. So, here's my question. Money left my account for my (third) FBI police check application three weeks ago tomorrow. My worry is that it's been lost in the mail. Should I call them about it? How long did it take your FBI police check to arrive in Australia after money was taken out of your account?

If it has been lost in the mail, what would the process be then? If I call them up and tell them I haven't yet received it, would they be able to send a copy without me sending in yet another application, adding additional weeks to the waiting time? Or would I have to get my fingerprints done yet again?

I'm getting a bit frustrated as I've been attempting to get this document since April and it's just been one thing after another! Also, I received that request for more information, and to supply the documents within 28 days of receipt, a few days ago... getting nervous that I won't get everything in on time (though I'm sure if I explain the situation they'll be understanding).

My understanding is that the wait time for the FBI check was 6-8 weeks.. some people got theirs faster, but I think that's the turnaround time the FBI states? Not sure. Either way, 3 weeks is not much time at all for an FBI check. I think they were actually quoting 12 week turn around time at one point...

__________________Original Nationality: US Visa #1: PMV (300) through Washington, D.CApplied: April 2013. Visa Granted: January 2014. Visa #2: Subclass 820 (From PMV).Applied: End of April 2014.Visa Granted: Early July 2014.Visa #3: 801 (PR)Eligibility Date: End of April 2016 (Applied a month prior). PR Granted: Early April 2017.

3 weeks is too early to start worrying. Also add at least a week for post. Wait for a couple of weeks, then call to enquire if the fingerprints were accepted. You may get some info. I had to send my fingerprints 3 times before they picked a set. The third time, I actually sent 3 different sets of fingerprints to increase the probability of at least one getting picked up.

I thought that it was 6-8 weeks from the time they received the application? In which case, I sent that off September 24 and it arrived just in time for the government shut down. Discounting the three weeks they were shut down, it's been in their hands while they've been operating for about seven or eight weeks now.

I suppose my worry is that the last time I had contact with them, I received my "your fingerprints were not high enough quality" letter about a week after money left my account. For that one, I sent off the application, waited about 10 weeks, saw the money leave my account, and received the paperwork one week later. That gave me the impression that they sent out the information shortly after processing the transaction. Is that not the case?

In comparison, in case I'm not being clear, this time my timeline goes like this: sent off application (they were quoting 5-6 weeks at the time), waited three weeks for the government shut down, waited four weeks, saw the money come out of my account, have now waited three weeks for a document. If there's still no reason to worry, I'd love to hear it! I just thought I'd clear up the timeline. Thank you both for your responses.

It is 6-8 weeks from the time they received the application. Since you have not got any "fingerprint quality" letter from them till now, I hope your fingerprints have been accepted. They take a couple of weeks to do the actual processing. I will suggest you to call them and just talk. It has been a long time and the FBI people I have talked to have been generally very polite if not very helpful.

Sorry, Inkhearted, they took the money out of my account quickly when they did mine so I thought you'd just sent it a few weeks ago. I'd say you're still within the realm of normal - but either way, you've got nothing to lose by calling them up and checking, right?

Thanks, both of you! It's helpful to know that it does usually take a few weeks to process. My previous applications must have been an exception rather than the rule. That does make me feel better! I might wait an extra week or so before calling, then... or I might cave and see if I can get a few answers.

Inkhearted
turnaround time for FBI checks has improved a lot and you should expect your results in about 2 months time. If the results are lost in mail, they would mail out another one free of cost. In my case I had to request 3rd time as well for which I went through whole round of getting FPs done at local police and sending out another fresh application along with fee.

I just wanted to update in case anyone is reading this thread and having the same questions--called the FBI this morning (was surprised by how quickly I was put through to someone!) and was told that my fingerprints WERE readable (YAAAYYY!) and that they sent the clearance out on November 25. So that's about 10 days after money came out of my account, and I'm not quite so nervous about it having been lost as it's been just over 2 weeks now since it was sent out, and things do seem to take longer to get over here during the holiday season (at least in my experience!).

Anyway, they said they can't do anything if it IS lost until 4 weeks after it was sent out. So I can call again on December 23 if I still haven't received it and they'll send out another one (not sure if this will cost more or not; didn't ask). Fingers crossed it will arrive soon and I won't have to do that. Watch it get here today.

Today is December 23 in the US, 28 days after November 25, which is the day that I was told my FBI police check was sent out. Still no check. So, I called in like the lady told me to, said I had called a few weeks before to inquire about the status, was told to wait 28 days, and asked for it to be sent out again because it never arrived.

This lady I spoke to said, "Did you call in again?" and proceeded to tell me that the police check had been sent out AGAIN on the 12th of December--as you can see from the post above, the day I called in last time. The lady I had spoken to was VERY adamant that I had to wait 28 days before anything could be done.

My worry now is that she pressed something because we were talking about it and nothing was actually sent out. I have no idea what their systems are like or if that could have even happened. I should probably be looking on the bright side of things: maybe she decided to send it out anyway as like Christmas cheer or something! But given my previous experience, I just doubt it. The lady I spoke to TODAY said if this new one that was "sent out" never arrives, I have to redo the entire application because they'll only resend it once.

I don't know, is it worth calling again with my thoughts more collected and explain what I think might have happened? (I was just so confused when she told me that I was like, "Um... okay... I guess I'll... wait then?") Wait it out and see if I eventually get it, and if I don't head back to the police station to fork over another $50 for a few sets of fingerprints?

Ugh, sorry if I sound exasperated. I've had a rough month with tons of things and was thinking I would be able to get THIS sorted easily at least. Something like this WOULD happen.

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